Excerpt from The Yahushaic Covenant Volume 1 by Rav Sha'ul We must learn to be Righteous Judges by Rav Sha'ul   One of the main lessons that we are intended to learn during this life training is the concept of Righteousness.  Righteousness is defined in The Law of Yahuah so we are to study that Law in preparation for our role in The Kingdom of Yahuah.  We are to train ourselves in The Law of Yahuah so that we can become Righteous Judges.  We are being trained as Kings and Priests of Yahuah and the foundation of both is righteous judgment. Of course the false religion of Christianity is designed to hide this most highest of callings.  We are taught “thou shalt not judge” as though it were one of the Ten Commandments!  It is actually referred to as the 11th commandment.  There is no 11th Commandment.  If there were, it would most probably be “thou shall not take My Word out of context”.  Not only is “thou shalt not judge” not one of the Ten Commandments it is not one of any of the 613 Laws.  The Law of Yahuah actually contains instructions for how to be a judge.   The word “Torah” means “instructions in Righteousness”. Like all “sound bite implied doctrines” (of the false religion of Christianity) “Thou shall not judge” it is a direct contradiction of explicit scripture that we are in fact called to be judges.  Paul, writing to the assembly in Corinth, was frustrated that they had not exercised their authority to judge: 1 Corinthians 6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to (a court of) law before the unrighteous (those who do not keep The Law of Yahuah), and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this (that you fail to judge) to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to (a court of) law against brother, and that (court of Law) before unbelievers! Yahusha delegated the authority to judge to the rest of the sons of Yahuah: John 20 21 So Yahusha said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Yahusha gave instruction on how judgment should be handled: Matthew 18:15-18 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the assembly of believers. But if he refuses even to hear the assembly, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  18 “Assuredly, I say to you (you are judges), whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The Apostle Paul readily accepted his role as a judge: 1Corinthians 5:3 "For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed" Obviously the 11th commandment is a commandment of men not of Yahuah.  The false doctrine of “thou shalt not judge” is based on the following scripture taken out of context: Matthew 7 “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Let’s put this sound bite back into context and establish sound doctrine that does not contradict explicit scripture that we are called to be Righteous Judges.  What Yahusha is teaching above is that we are not to be self righteous judges setting our own standards based on our own personal moral code of behavior.  We see this all the time in Christianity.  For instance those who don’t drink alcohol at all judge those who drink socially on occasion.  Those that drink only on occasion judge those who drink more often.  Those who drink more often judge those who are alcoholics.  We set our own personal standards and then judge everyone around us by those self righteous standards.  In every case we end up judging others for the “hidden sins in our own life” and we become hypocrites.  We are to judge by The Torah alone in righteousness so that our judgment will stand. Matthew 7 1 “Judge not (self righteously), that you be not judged (by others self righteousness). 2 For with what judgment you judge (it doesn’t say not to judge), you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you (this is saying to judge fairly and just by The Law of Yahuah alone). 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye (first judge your own life by The Law)? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Now Yahusha restates what he just said in verses 1 and 2 below in a parable (physical to spiritual parallel) 6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and again and render you. What Yahusha is saying (using metaphors to veil the Kingdom as always) is this: “Judge not self righteously, that you not be unrighteously judged in return.  Evaluate your own life in context of The Law before you are qualified to judge your brother.  Properly judge between that which is “holy” and “dogs”, “pearls” and “swine” defined in The Law of Yahuah… if you don’t judge properly by His Law, your poor self righteous judgment will not stand (be trampled under their feet) and self righteous judgment will be turned against you and Yahuah will heap your righteousness back onto your head.” The Apostle Paul taught the exact same message: 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 10 But Yahuah has revealed the mysteries of His Kingdom to us through His Spirit of Truth. For the Spirit of Truth searches all things, yes, the deep things of Yahuah. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of Yahuah except the Spirit of Yahuah. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the error (which is abolishing The Law), but the Spirit of Truth who is from Yahuah (which teaches us to keep His Law), that we might know the things (in The Law) that have been freely given to us by Yahuah. The Spirit Paul is referring to is the Spirit of Truth that Ezekiel prophesied would come over those in The New Covenant: Ezekiel 36: 26, 27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit (of loving obedience) in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone (legalistic observance of The Law without love) and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Continuing with 1 Corinthians 2… 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Spirit of Holiness teaches (The Spiritual Law which is written on our hearts Jeremiah 31), comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of Yahuah, for (he is filled with the Spirit of Error abolishing The Law) they (the commandments) are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (Spiritual intent behind The Law). 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things (properly according to intent of The Law of Yahuah), yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of Yahuah that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of the Messiah (who judges by The Law of Yahuah as it flows forth from Zion as the standard of righteousness in The Kingdom of Yahuah). Isaiah 2:3-4 3 Yahusha will teach us the ways of Yahuah, And we shall walk in Yahusha’s example.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of Yahuah from Jerusalem. 4 Yahusha shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; We are called by Yahuah to have the Spirit of Holiness which teaches us the spiritual intent of His Law and by that Law we are to judge with equity.  We are being trained for the day we are resurrected as gods in His family and we are being trained to govern: Psalm 58:1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? In The Law of Yahuah the concept of judgment and instructions in righteous judgment are defined clearly.  I’ll cover this in detail in the next chapter: Leviticus 19 15' You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. Judging another by your own self righteous moral code is injustice.  You are not the standard of righteousness, Yahuah is.  If you don’t know The Law of Yahuah then you are simply not to judge at all.  If you decide to be judgmental outside of knowing His Law, then Yahuah will judge you by His Law and by the same standard you used to judge those around you. I am now going to firmly establish what it means to be a Righteous Judge in The Kingdom of Yahuah.  Righteous judgment is the character that is the underlying foundation of every King, every Priest, and every son of Yahuah. Qualifications to be a Righteous Judge To be qualified as a Righteous Judge, we must meet the following Biblical standards: Properly judge our own lives first in accordance with the Law of Yahuah. Understand that every judgment is subject to the Highest Court… Yahusha the Messiah.  So your judgment must be in line with his which is in line with Torah standards. Exercise the proper “purpose” in judgment which is to lovingly deliver Yahuah’s people from their sin against Yahuah (sin is breaking the Law of Yahuah).  You must know the Spiritual intent of the Law of Yahuah in order to deliver others from their sin. Judges must have the heart of a servant, and judge in humility and love Righteous judgment brings people to Yahuah; selfish judgment drives them away. You must act at all times within The Will of Yahuah. Your judgment must justify the righteous (those who keep His Law) and condemn the wicked (lawless ones or law breakers those who commit “iniquity”) At all costs you must avoid the tendency to exercise self righteous judgment by imposing on others your own personal standards.   Properly Judge Our Own Lives We are called as judges to first judge our own lives.  Then properly judge our loved ones, then the nations, then the Earth, and ultimately the Universe.  We are to be set apart from this world by His Law and sanctified through it: Romans 6:19 I am speaking in simple terms because of the frailty of your human nature. Just as you once offered the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater disobedience (to the Law), so now, in the same way, you must offer the parts of your body as slaves to righteousness (which is keeping the Law) that leads to sanctification. Judging our own lives by His Law is how we progress in the process of sanctification.  That is the process of being disciplined by Yahuah for disobedience as we bring our lives into harmony with His Will.  Once sanctified, we will be set apart from this world and not condemned with it. 1 Corinthians 11 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by Yahuah, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. Self judgment is a pre-requisite of righteous judgment.  If we don’t first judge our selves we will inevitably be a hypocrite. Matthew 7:5 "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye"   Every judgment is subject to the Highest Court Every work we do on Earth will be judged by Yahuah.  Ecclesiastes 12:14 "For Yahuah shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good (works of the Law), or whether it be evil (breaking the Law)." That judgment will be executed by PROXY as Yahusha (the image of Yahuah) was given the responsibility to judge and charge over the courts of Yahuah.  We see below that even Yahusha had to be trained in righteousness by “keeping My commands and walking in Yahuah’s way by keeping the Torah” BEFORE he was qualified as judge and King: Zachariah 3 6 Then the Angel of Yahuah admonished Yahusha, saying, 7 “Thus says Yahuah of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways (the Torah), And if you will keep My command (the Law), Then you shall (be qualified to) also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts;” We see that the only way Yahusha would be judge and take charge of Yahuah’s courts is if he walked in the way of Yahuah and kept Yahuah’s commandments.  Because it is the Law that is the constitution of The Kingdom of Yahuah. All our works will be categorized as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble.  Our works will be judged by The Word of Yahuah which is the “fire” mentioned below: 1 Corinthians 3 12 If anyone builds on the foundation of Yahusha’s example using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. Note: Fire is a physical metaphor of the Law of Yahuah.  The Word of Yahuah is the all consuming fire… Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my word like fire," declares Yahuah”   Jeremiah 5:14 Therefore, thus says Yahuah, the God of hosts, "Because you have spoken this word, Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire And this people wood, and it will consume them.   Hebrews 12:29 for our "God is a consuming fire."   Exodus 24:17 The sight of the glory of Yahuah (giving His Law to Moses) was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. Continuing with 1 Corinthians… 14 If what has been built survives (the test of the Law of Yahuah which is a consuming fire), the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.  Therefore we must look within ourselves and test our motives (spiritual intent) to ensure our works and our judgments are found to be gold, silver, and precious stones so that they survive the fire and we receive our reward: 2 John 1 8 Look (in) to yourselves (in self judgment), that we do not lose those things we worked for (by self righteous judgment), but that we may receive a full reward (for our righteous judgments that lead people to Yahuah).  9 Whoever transgresses the Law and does not abide in The Yahushaic Covenant does not have the Spirit of Yahuah. We are to be wise in the path we take and ensure we always keep the Law of Yahuah as the light that directs our paths.  If we do that, all our judgments will be righteous and will be upheld by the Highest Court and we will receive our reward.   This is because, as I will show next, righteous judgment brings people to Yahuah and we bear fruit for His Kingdom by exercising righteous judgment. Ephesians 5 8 For you were once darkness (did not follow Yahuah’s Laws), but now you are light in Yahuah (the Torah is a light unto our path to Yahuah). Walk as children of light (in obedience to the spiritual intent of the Law) 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit of Holiness is all goodness, righteousness, and truth in obedience to the Law), 10 finding out what is acceptable to Yahuah (which is defined in the Law). 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (people who do not keep the Law), but rather expose (judge) them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light (the Law exposes our sin)… 15 See then that you walk circumspectly (walk very carefully according to His Law), not as fools (who believe the Law has been abolished) but as wise men (who obey the Law of Yahuah).   Purpose in Judgment is to deliver Yahuah’s People As with all things, Yahuah gave us a physical example in the era of Judges that are to serve as spiritual examples (physical to spiritual parallel).  This divine shadow picture of righteous judges can be found in the Book of Judges.  In true form judges came before kings as righteous judgment is the foundation of a righteous king.  Each judge is a divinely inspired leader whose direct knowledge of Yahuah allows them to act as champions for the Israelites.  The judge delivers Yahuah’s people from oppression by foreign rulers... They are models of the wise and faithful behavior required of them by Yahuah. Judges 2:18 “And when Yahuah raised them up judges, then Yahuah was with the judge, and delivered His people out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge” We see the purpose of righteous judgment with Abraham who was commended for practicing "judgment" leading to the deliverance of his family and the blessings of Yahuah: Genesis 18:19 "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yahuah, to do justice and judgment; that Yahuah may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him"   Must have a Servant’s Heart A Righteous Judge must have a servant’s heart.  King Solomon stands as one of Yahuah’s examples of a Righteous Judge.  King Solomon understood the awesome responsibility that came with judging the people of Yahuah.  Solomon was humbled by the responsibility and asked Yahuah for an understanding heart toward his people: 1Kings 3:9 "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people?" Solomon’s heart was not self-seeking!  Solomon sought the Will of Yahuah in the judgment of his, Yahuah’s, people.  Solomon was careful to seek Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding that he could properly exercise judgment and be a Righteous Judge.  Yahuah gladly granted that request in addition to every request Solomon didn’t make: 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 11 Then Yahuah said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked for long life — but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”   Righteous Judgment Brings People to Yahuah A Righteous Judge is one of the most powerful weapons in the hands of Yahuah.  These men of God are able to truly understand relative evil vs. absolute evil.  Relative evil is what is evil in the eyes of man and it is relative to the person experiencing it.  Absolute evil is evil in the eyes of Yahuah as defined by His Law.  He has a close relationship with Yahuah understanding the true spiritual definition of sin as it relates to attitude of heart.  He is not bound by “religious” dos and don’ts.  The Righteous Judge has full use of the powers given to him personally by Yahuah (personal liberty) and there is no limit to his resourcefulness in winning people to Yahuah through Yahusha: 1Corinthians 9:22 "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" I’ll cover Grace, liberty, and the Law in the next chapter.  A Righteous Judge is truly a spiritual man who is capable of effectively judging or discerning ALL THINGS.  A Righteous Judge has Godly Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding and is judged by no man. 1 Corinthians 2:15 "But he that is Spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man"  Justify the Righteous and Condemn the Wicked Our purpose in exercising judgment will be to justify the righteous who keep the Law of Yahuah and condemn the wicked who work iniquity (break the Law of Yahuah): Deuteronomy 25:1 "If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked".   Avoid Unrighteous Judgment (selfish judgment) Unrighteous judgment is avoidable and forbidden to the righteous judge: Leviticus 19:15 15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness (the Law) you shall judge your neighbor.   Judging the World - Righteous judgment in the Millennial Kingdom and beyond The Bible clearly teaches that the sons of Yahuah will reign over and judge the nations during the time of the Millennial Reign under the authority of King Yahusha the Messiah. 1 Corinthians 6:2 2 Do you not know that the sons of Yahuah will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of the Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" The very purpose of our life on Earth is to be trained for service in the Millennial Kingdom and into the Eternal Kingdom.  In Luke, Yahusha clearly illustrated this truth in the parable of the Ten Pounds and Ten Servants who were ordered to "Occupy till I come". This parable teaches us that our faithfulness in this life will be rewarded with MORE responsibility in the future Kingdom of Yahuah.  More authority as a JUDGE as we REIGN with Yahusha the Messiah: Luke 19:11 11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ 15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ Remember, we are being trained as Righteous Judges.  We are supposed to be “doing business” or taking care of the business at hand which is applying our lives to training for His coming Kingdom.  We should be studying His Law and applying it to our lives and learning to exercise judgment.  It is not at all something to abuse or take lightly.  To the Righteous Judge, it is joy to exercise justice in judgment: Proverbs 21:15 "It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity (breaking the Law of Yahuah)".

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